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  • Warriors' Draymond Green on most recent ejection: 'It just can't happen'
    By Field Level Media / Thursday, March 28, 2024

    Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green said Thursday that he deserved to be ejected for his actions less than four minutes into his team's game against the Orlando Magic.

    • Green received his 19th career regular-season ejection from an NBA game and fourth this season after an exchange with official Ray Acosta on Wednesday.

      Green initially took issue with Acosta after being whistled for a personal foul, then approached the official again after teammate Stephen Curry was called for a shooting foul. Green received a technical foul after yelling at Acosta, and he was whistled for another as he continued his unsolicited commentary.

      "It just can't happen," Green said Thursday on "The Draymond Green Show" podcast. "I said what I said. I deserved to be kicked out at that point. If I'm all the way honest with y'all, kind of was trying to turn my body and angle it to go to the bench, but I said what I said a little too soon before angling my body. ... But, yeah, it just can't happen."

      The Warriors defeated the Magic 101-93.

      Green, 34, was suspended indefinitely by the NBA after hitting the Phoenix Suns' Jusuf Nurkic in the face during a game on Dec. 12 and wound up missing 12 games. Green also was suspended five games for putting Minnesota Timberwolves forward Rudy Gobert in a headlock in November.

      A four-time NBA champion and four-time All-Star, Green is averaging 8.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 47 games (44 starts) this season.

      --Field Level Media

  • Alex Rodriguez, partner strike out in bid to control Wolves, Lynx
    By Field Level Media / Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx are no longer for sale, majority owner Glen Taylor said Thursday.

    • Taylor confirmed the expiration of the option of retired baseball star Alex Rodriguez and former Walmart eCommerce CEO Marc Lore to acquire controlling interest of the NBA's Timberwolves and WNBA's Lynx.

      Rodriguez and Lore exercised their option to buy another 40 percent of the teams in December, opening a 90-day window to close the deal. That window shut on Wednesday.

      "I will continue to work with Marc, Alex and the rest of the ownership group to ensure our teams have the necessary resources to compete at the highest levels on and off the court," Taylor said in a statement. "The Timberwolves and Lynx are no longer for sale."

      Lore and Rodriguez would have taken over controlling interest in the clubs had the agreement been finalized.

      They began the $1.5 billion purchase in 2021 with their investment in the first 20 percent. They added the second 20 percent in March 2023 when they made a $290 million payment.

      The deal was thrown into question last week when the financial backer of Rodriguez and Lore, the Carlyle Group, couldn't reach agreement regarding requirements for those investing in the NBA with the pair, The Athletic reported.

      One day later, Rodriguez and Lore appeared to have obtained financing from another group and filed paperwork with the NBA to complete the deal. And in a statement issued Thursday, they said they were prepared to move ahead with the purchase.

      "We are disappointed with Glen Taylor's public statement today. We have fulfilled our obligations, have all necessary funding and are fully committed to closing our purchase of the team as soon as the NBA completes its approval process," Rodriguez and Lore said. "Glen Taylor's statement is an unfortunate case of seller's remorse that is short sighted and disruptive to the team and the fans during a historic winning season."

      The Timberwolves (50-22) are battling the Denver Nuggets (51-22) and Oklahoma City Thunder (50-22) for the top spot in the Western Conference. The Lynx open their WNBA season on May 14 against the Seattle Storm.

      --Field Level Media

  • Hornets G LaMelo Ball (ankle) to miss rest of season
    By Field Level Media / Thursday, March 28, 2024

    Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball has been shut down for the remainder of the season as he continues to rehab his right ankle injury, the team announced Thursday.

    • Ball sat out nearly seven weeks after he sprained his right ankle on Nov. 26. He returned to action on Jan. 12 and played the next two weeks for the Hornets.

      Ball, 22, averaged a career-high 23.9 points per game to go with 8.0 assists and 5.1 rebounds in 22 games (all starts) this season.

      In four seasons with the Hornets, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft has averaged 20.0 points, 7.4 assists and 6.2 rebounds in 184 games (164 starts).

      Ball appeared in just 36 games last season because of a broken right ankle. He was limited to 51 games as a rookie due to injuries, but still earned Rookie of the Year honors. He was an All-Star in 2021.

      --Field Level Media

  • Wizards, Capitals agree to stay in Washington until 2050
    By Field Level Media / Thursday, March 28, 2024

    After exploring the possibility of relocation to Virginia, the Wizards and Capitals will be staying in Washington until 2050.

    • Washington mayor Muriel E. Bowser and Ted Leonsis, who owns both franchises, signed a deal on Wednesday that would keep the Wizards and Capitals in town as long as the D.C. Council approves it.

      Per the deal, the city will put $515 million into Capital One Arena -- the home of both the Wizards and Capitals -- over the next three years. Because of those renovations, Leonsis will sign a new lease that runs from 2025-50.

      "We are the current home and the future home of the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards," Bowser said. "As Ted likes to say, we're going to be together for a long time."

      Leonsis' company, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, will also have the ability to expand throughout the city under the new deal.

      Just three months ago, Leonsis had a handshake agreement with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) in place for the construction of a new arena in Alexandria, Va. It would have been built in the Potomac Yard neighborhood of town as part of a $2.2 billion mixed-use development.

      But Bowser and the DC Council then made moves that caught Leonsis' eye, including the passage of a new crime bill and a plan to make downtown more vibrant, causing the owner to switch gears.

      "It's a great day, and I'm really relieved," Leonsis said Wednesday. "This was not only the right thing for the community, the right thing for the city, the right thing for us, it's a really smart business deal."

      --Field Level Media

  • 76ers optimistic Joel Embiid could return in regular season
    By Field Level Media / Wednesday, March 27, 2024

    Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is inching closer to a return before the end of the regular season, coach Nick Nurse said Wednesday.

    • Embiid has been sidelined with a left knee injury sustained when the Golden State Warriors' Jonathan Kuminga fell on him in a Jan. 30 game. Embiid underwent a procedure to fix the damage to his knee on Feb. 6.

      Nurse said ahead of the team's game against the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, "I think there's a very good likelihood that he will return before the play-in, playoff."

      Nurse added, "He's on the court ... and we still don't have a timeline for his return. ... I would imagine he's getting better each day. It's just trying to get him strong and confident and in shape and ramped up and all those wonderful words."

      The 76ers own a 26-8 record with Embiid on the floor this season. Without him, they were 13-25 entering play on Wednesday, 10-16 since Embiid got hurt on Jan. 30.

      Embiid, 30, is the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player. His average of 35.3 points per game this season would lead the league if he had played in enough games to qualify, and his rate of 11.3 rebounds per contest would rank among the top 10.

      Nurse also gave updates on Robert Covington, out since the start of the new year due to a knee injury, and De'Anthony Melton, sidelined since late February because of a back ailment.

      "Cov is progressing," Nurse said. "Looks like he could make a return here at some point. ... Melt is probably not as close yet. He's still kind of on a pain-tolerance thing. But again, we're kind of hopeful that both of them will be back at some point before this regular season ends."

      --Field Level Media

  • OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (quad) out vs. Rockets
    By Field Level Media / Wednesday, March 27, 2024

    Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will miss Wednesday night's game against the surging Houston Rockets with a quad injury.

    • The NBA's third-leading scorer (30.4 points per game) has been playing through the right quad contusion that occurred last Wednesday when he took a knee to the leg. The missed game will be just the second this season for Gilgeous-Alexander.

      Gilgeous-Alexander is shooting 54 percent from the floor and is averaging 5.6 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game.

      The Thunder (50-21) enter Wednesday's contest a half-game behind Denver for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

      Houston, meanwhile, owns the NBA's longest active winning streak at nine games. The Rockets (36-35) enter just one game behind Golden State for the 10th and final play-in spot in the West.

      --Field Level Media

  • Knicks C Mitchell Robinson returns after 50-game absence
    By Field Level Media / Wednesday, March 27, 2024

    New York center Mitchell Robinson returned from a 50-game absence due to an ankle injury and played 12 minutes in the Knicks' 145-101 rout of the host Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.

    • Robinson sustained the injury on Dec. 8 and required surgery. The defensive-minded big man came off the bench to score eight points and grab two rebounds against the Raptors.

      The surging Knicks (44-28) won their third straight game and seventh in their last eight.

      Robinson, who turns 26 on Monday, began the night averaging 6.2 points on 59.2 percent shooting with a team-high 10.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 21 games (all starts) before the injury.

      The 7-footer entered Wednesday with career averages of 8.1 points and 8.0 rebounds in 310 games (196 starts) since New York drafted him in the second round in 2018.

      --Field Level Media

  • Nets F Keita Bates-Diop to miss remainder of season
    By Field Level Media / Wednesday, March 27, 2024

    Brooklyn Nets forward Keita Bates-Diop underwent a procedure to address a stress fracture in his right tibia and will miss the rest of the season.

    • Bates-Diop is expected to return to on-court activity in approximately one month, the Nets said in Wednesday's announcement.

      Bates-Diop, 28, is averaging 3.7 points and 2.1 rebounds in 53 games (eight starts) this season split with the Nets and Phoenix Suns. He was sent from Phoenix to Brooklyn as part of a three-team trade on Feb. 8.

      He has averaged 6.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 16.1 minutes in 283 career games (67 starts) with five teams since being drafted in the second round by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2018.

      --Field Level Media

  • NBA roundup: Lakers storm back, best Bucks in 2OT
    By Field Level Media / Wednesday, March 27, 2024

    Anthony Davis scored 34 points and grabbed 23 rebounds as the visiting Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a 128-124 double-overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday after trailing by 10 points with 3:26 remaining in regulation.

    • Los Angeles' Austin Reaves amassed 29 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, and he hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 38.6 seconds remaining in the second overtime. D'Angelo Russell added 29 points and 12 assists for the Lakers.

      Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a triple-double with 29 points, 21 rebounds and 11 assists for the Bucks. However, he missed two free throws with 24.2 seconds remaining in the second overtime after Reaves made his 3-pointer that gave Los Angeles a 124-121 lead.

      Milwaukee's Damian Lillard amassed 27 points and eight assists. The Lakers were down 94-75 with 8:25 remaining in regulation before they began their comeback.

      Warriors 113, Heat 92

      Klay Thompson scored 28 points on 11-of-20 shooting and Golden State delivered one of its best defensive performances of the season en route to a win over host Miami.

      The Warriors, who came into Tuesday's contest on a two-game skid, led much of the way and took control in the fourth quarter. Golden State held the Heat to just 6-of-22 shooting in the period, growing its lead to 22 points in the process.

      Bam Adebayo scored a team-high 24 points on 10-of-21 shooting for Miami, and Haywood Highsmith added 15 points off the bench. Jonathan Kuminga chipped in 18 points for the Warriors.

      Thunder 119, Pelicans 112

      Jalen Williams scored 26 points and visiting Oklahoma City used a balanced scoring effort to defeat New Orleans.

      The Thunder scored the final 12 points of the game over the last three minutes to escape with a victory. Josh Giddey added a season-high 25 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 and Chet Holmgren had 16 for the Thunder, who won for the fifth time in six games.

      Zion Williamson had 29 points and 10 assists, CJ McCollum scored 23 points and Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones supplied 16 apiece for the Pelicans.

      Mavericks 132, Kings 96

      Luka Doncic scored 26 of his 28 points in the first half, Kyrie Irving had 18 of his 24 over the final two periods and Dallas rode the tag-team effort of their star guards in a shellacking of host Sacramento.

      P.J. Washington put up 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds while Tim Hardaway Jr. chipped in with 22 points off the bench for the Mavericks, who won their fifth in a row, including their second straight to open a five-game trip.

      Domantas Sabonis had 12 points, a team-high 11 rebounds and a game-high nine assists for the Kings, who get a rematch with the Mavericks -- again in Sacramento -- on Friday night.

      --Field Level Media

  • Hawks star Trae Young (finger) making progress
    By Field Level Media / Tuesday, March 26, 2024

    Atlanta Hawks star guard Trae Young is moving closer toward a return from the left pinkie surgery he underwent last month.

    • Young was re-examined Monday and will now begin the next step of his rehabilitation. According to the Hawks, Young will start small finger motion exercises this week.

      Young tore a ligament in the finger on Feb. 23 during a game against the Toronto Raptors and underwent surgery four days later.

      There remains no timetable for the return of the three-time All-Star. The Hawks are 8-7 without him entering Wednesday's home game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

      Young, 25, averages a team-best 26.4 points and 10.8 assists in 51 games (all starts) this season.

      Overall, Young is contributing 25.6 points and 9.5 assists in 404 career games (all starts) since being selected with the fifth overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft.

      --Field Level Media

  • Lakers' LeBron James (ankle) out vs. Bucks
    By Field Level Media / Tuesday, March 26, 2024

    Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has been downgraded from doubtful to out for Tuesday's game against the host Milwaukee Bucks due to a left ankle injury.

    • It will mark the 10th game that James has missed this season, including both contests against Milwaukee. The Lakers recorded a 123-122 victory over the Bucks in Los Angeles on March 8.

      James, 39, is averaging 25.4 points, 8.1 assists and 7.2 rebounds in 62 games this season, his 20th in the NBA.

      Los Angeles (39-32) has won three in a row and five of its past seven games heading into the opener of a six-game road trip on Tuesday.

      --Field Level Media

  • NBA roundup: Hawks shed 30-point deficit to edge Celtics
    By Field Level Media / Tuesday, March 26, 2024

    Dejounte Murray scored 19 points, dished out 15 assists and made the go-ahead basket with one minute left to help the Atlanta Hawks overcome a 30-point deficit and stun the visiting Boston Celtics 120-118 on Monday.

    • De'Andre Hunter followed with a 3-pointer to up Atlanta's lead to four points with 10.1 seconds remaining. Jayson Tatum scored on a tip-in with 1.2 seconds left for Boston, but Atlanta was able to inbound the ball after a timeout to run out the clock.

      No team had successfully come back from a 30-point deficit against the team with the best record in the NBA since the Los Angeles Lakers did so against the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 6, 2002.

      Monday also marked the Hawks' largest come-from-behind win of the play-by-play era, which began in 1997-98. The Celtics led 68-38 in the second quarter, but Atlanta went on an 18-6 run to cut the lead to 74-56 at halftime.

      Hunter led the Hawks with 24 points, and Bogdan Bogdanovic contributed 22. Boston got 37 points and eight rebounds from Tatum and 24 points from Jaylen Brown.

      Knicks 124, Pistons 99

      Donte DiVincenzo hit a franchise-record 11 3-pointers, scoring a career-high 40 points to lead host New York to a rout of Detroit.

      DiVincenzo broke the mark set by J.R. Smith on April 6, 2014, and matched by Evan Fournier on Jan. 6, 2022. Fournier, who was traded by the Knicks to the Pistons on Feb. 8, played for Detroit on Monday night and spent much of the second half covering DiVincenzo.

      Josh Hart (11 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists) posted his sixth triple-double of the season while Jalen Brunson had 28 points for the Knicks. James Wiseman (14 points, 11 rebounds) posted a double-double and Marcus Sasser had 24 points for the Pistons, who have lost seven in a row.

      Spurs 104, Suns 102

      Jeremy Sochan hit for 26 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer in the final minute, as San Antonio hung on to defeat visiting Phoenix in the second game of a two-game set in three days between the teams.

      The Spurs played without star rookie Victor Wembanyama, who was ruled out just before game time with a sprained left ankle. Sochan also grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds for San Antonio. Devin Vassell added 26 points while Zach Collins had 18.

      Devin Booker finished with 36 points, Kevin Durant had 29 and Royce O'Neale added 12 for the Suns in the loss.

      Cavaliers 115, Hornets 92

      Jarrett Allen, Georges Niang and Evan Mobley each scored 17 points and Cleveland pulled away to clobber visiting Charlotte and end a three-game losing streak.

      It was a solid turnaround after the Cavaliers lost by 37 points on Sunday night at Miami, as Cleveland shot 53.5 percent from the field and owned a 47-33 rebounding edge.

      Brandon Miller racked up 24 points for the Hornets, who were blown out by 41 two nights earlier at Atlanta and finished winless on a four-game road stretch, leaving their overall losing streak at five games.

      Nets 96, Raptors 88

      Trendon Watford scored 19 points off the bench and visiting Brooklyn ended a six-game losing streak with a win over Toronto.

      It was the 11th consecutive loss for the Raptors. Dennis Schroder, who started the season with Toronto, also had 19 points for Brooklyn.

      Gary Trent Jr. led Toronto with 18 points. Kelly Olynyk had 10 points and nine assists for the undermanned Raptors, who last won on March 3.

      Wizards 107, Bulls 105

      Jordan Poole scored a team-high 23 points to lead Washington past host Chicago, giving the Wizards their third straight win.

      Corey Kispert added 19 points and 12 rebounds for Washington, while Marvin Bagley III scored 16 points off the bench. DeMar DeRozan led Chicago with 27 points, while Coby White scored 22. The Bulls lost their third straight.

      After White made a pair of free throws to cut the Wizards' lead to one, Justin Champagnie split two foul shots to make it a two-point game with 5.3 seconds left. DeRozan had a chance to win it but missed a 3-point shot at the buzzer.

      Rockets 110, Trail Blazers 92

      Jalen Green scored 27 points, including 12 during a decisive third-quarter run, to help Houston overcome a sluggish start and defeat visiting Portland.

      The Rockets extended their winning streak to nine games and improved to 11-1 in March. Green and Fred VanVleet shot a combined 14-for-44, including 6-for-20 from behind the arc. Jock Landale posted 17 points and nine rebounds for the Rockets, while rookie Amen Thompson added 12 points and nine boards.

      Dalano Banton paced the Trail Blazers with 28 points and 11 rebounds. Scoot Henderson added 15 points while Toumani Camara chipped in 12 points and five boards as Portland suffered its seventh loss in a row.

      Nuggets 128, Grizzlies 103

      Nikola Jokic produced 29 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in his return from a one-game absence and host Denver handed struggling Memphis its fifth loss in six games.

      Christian Braun scored 17 points and Reggie Jackson had 15 points for Denver, which is 15-2 since the All-Star break. The Nuggets lead the Oklahoma City Thunder by one game in the race for first place in the Western Conference.

      Lamar Stevens scored 19 points off the bench and Scotty Pippen Jr. supplied 17 for the Grizzlies.

      Mavericks 115, Jazz 105

      Luka Doncic scored 29 points and notched his 19th triple-double of the season to lead Dallas past Utah in Salt Lake City.

      Doncic, who finished with 13 assists and 12 rebounds, also scored six points during a decisive 12-0 run in the fourth quarter. Kyrie Irving added 27 points for the Mavericks, who have won four straight games and eight of their past nine.

      Lauri Markkanen led all scorers with 34 points for the struggling Jazz, who have lost six consecutive games and 17 of 20. Utah only scored 17 points in the final quarter and 39 in the second half after a strong offensive showing in the first half.

      Kings 108, 76ers 96

      Keegan Murray and De'Aaron Fox each scored 23 points, Domantas Sabonis added to his NBA triple-double lead and host Sacramento gradually pulled away from road-weary Philadelphia.

      Sabonis finished with 11 points and game highs of 13 rebounds and 10 assists for the Kings, who opened a key five-game homestand with their sixth win in the past eight games.

      Tyrese Maxey had a game-high 29 points for the 76ers, who completed their six-day, Western Conference road trip with a 1-3 mark.

      Pacers 133, Clippers 116

      Pascal Siakam scored 31 points and Myles Turner added 24 as Indiana turned improved defense into a victory over host Los Angeles.

      Tyrese Haliburton scored 21 points and handed out nine assists and T.J. McConnell added 15 points as the Pacers won for the third time in four games. Indiana held the Clippers in check after allowing 150 points to the Los Angeles Lakers in a defeat on Sunday.

      Kawhi Leonard and Paul George each scored 26 points as the Clippers dropped their second home game in a row and fell into a tie for fourth place in the Western Conference. Russell Westbrook added 14 points and seven assists in 18 minutes in his first game following surgery for a fractured left hand.

      --Field Level Media

  • NBA investigating Raptors' Jontay Porter for betting irregularities
    By Field Level Media / Tuesday, March 26, 2024

    The NBA is investigating Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter for his role in betting irregularities this season, ESPN reported Monday.

    • Sources told ESPN that Porter, brother of Denver Nuggets' forward Michael Porter Jr., is under the league's microscope for prop betting markets in games played Jan. 26 and March 20.

      In the first instance, Jan. 26 against the Clippers, sportsbooks had Porter's props set at over/under 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.5 3-pointers. At the time, Porter had per game averages of 4.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 0.7 3-pointers.

      Prior to the game, there was a heightened level of betting interest on the under for Porter's props. He played four minutes before leaving because, according to the team, Porter aggravated an eye injury suffered Jan. 22.

      Porter's final numbers from the Jan. 26 game: no points, three rebounds and one assist, thus hitting the under on all of his prop markets. DraftKings reported the next day that Porter's 3-pointers "under" bet was the public's biggest winner that night among all NBA props.

      The March 20 game in question, against the Sacramento Kings, saw Porter again depart - this time after only three minutes - because of what the team said was an illness.

      Porter's totals were set at 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. He took - and missed - one shot and had two rebounds.

      Once again, the DraftKings day-after report said Porter's under wagers were the night's biggest money-earners for sports bettors.

      Porter's two-contract with Toronto this season pays him $415,000.

      After missing Saturday's matchup with the Washington Wizards because of personal reasons, Porter was listed as "out" for Monday's game against the Brooklyn Nets.

      As part of the injury report, Porter's estimated return date is April 14, the final day of the NBA's regular season, possibly indicating he might not return at all this season.

      In 26 games this season, Porter, 24, carries averages of 14 minutes per game, 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

      -Field Level Media

  • Spurs' Victor Wembanyama (ankle) out vs. Suns
    By Field Level Media / Tuesday, March 26, 2024

    San Antonio Spurs rookie center Victor Wembanyama will miss Monday night's game against the Phoenix Suns with a sprained left ankle.

    • He suffered the injury Saturday night in a 131-106 loss to the Suns, the first of two games in San Antonio between the two teams. He scored 13 points and had five rebounds in 21 minutes.

      The 7-foot-3 Wembanyama has been bothered by ankle sprains throughout the season.

      On the season, the 20-year-old is averaging 20.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.4 blocks for the Spurs (15-56).

      The game is crucial for the Suns (42-29), who have a half-game lead over the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference for the No. 6 seed. By finishing in the top six, the Suns would avoid the play-in tournament.

      --Field Level Media

  • NBA roundup: Lakers score season-best 150 vs. Pacers
    By Field Level Media / Tuesday, March 26, 2024

    Anthony Davis posted 36 points and 16 rebounds and LeBron James added 26 points and 10 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers held off the visiting Indiana Pacers 150-145 on Sunday.

    • Spencer Dinwiddie had 26 points and Austin Reaves added 25 points and eight assists as the Lakers reached a season high in points despite not having D'Angelo Russell (illness). Los Angeles, which has won three games in a row, now faces a challenging six-game road trip that begins Tuesday.

      Though the Lakers also earned a victory over the Pacers during the in-season tournament title game, that contest did not count in the regular-season standings. The teams meet again Friday in Indianapolis.

      Pascal Siakam had 36 points and 12 rebounds and Myles Turner added 20 points for the Pacers, who entered with five victories in their past seven games. Indiana is now 2-1 on a five-game road trip and remains in Los Angeles to meet the Clippers on Monday.

      Pelicans 114, Pistons 101

      Zion Williamson powered his way to 36 points, seven rebounds and six assists as New Orleans defeated host Detroit.

      CJ McCollum had 23 points and seven assists, while Naji Marshall supplied 14 points and eight rebounds. Jonas Valanciunas added 13 points for the Pelicans.

      Chimezie Metu and Malachi Flynn led the Pistons with 17 points apiece. Jaden Ivey, the lone healthy starter, had 16 points.

      76ers 121, Clippers 107

      Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey scored 24 points apiece as visiting Philadelphia opened the fourth quarter on a 20-4 run and pulled away to beat Los Angeles.

      Cameron Payne had a season-high 23 points for the 76ers, who led wire-to-wire and snapped a two-game skid. Kelly Oubre Jr. finished with 12 points and a season-high six assists, and Paul Reed had 10 points.

      Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell led the Clippers with 20 points apiece. Paul George scored 18 points, Ivica Zubac had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and James Harden finished with 12 points and 14 assists.

      Heat 121, Cavaliers 84

      Bam Adebayo posted 15 points, 16 rebounds, five steals and three assists in just 28 minutes to lead host Miami to a runaway win over Cleveland.

      The Heat, who led by as many as 45 points, nearly set a franchise record for the largest margin of victory. The record is 43 points in December 1994 against the Los Angeles Clippers. Miami fell six points short of that mark. Miami got a team-high 18 points from reserve Haywood Highsmith. Starter Jimmy Butler had 15 points and six assists in 24 minutes.

      Cleveland, which has lost three straight games, was led by Evan Mobley, who scored 15 points in 21 minutes. He had missed the previous nine games due to an ankle injury.

      Timberwolves 114, Warriors 110

      Anthony Edwards had 23 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and Minnesota held on to beat Golden State in Minneapolis.

      Naz Reid registered a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who finished a three-game regular-season series sweep against the Warriors. Rudy Gobert also notched a double-double with 17 points and 12 boards.

      Stephen Curry scored 31 points and shot 5-for-11 from beyond the arc to pace the Warriors. Klay Thompson added 16 points off the bench, and Andrew Wiggins scored 15.

      Bucks 118, Thunder 93

      Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and grabbed a season-high 19 rebounds to lead Milwaukee past visiting Oklahoma City.

      Khris Middleton notched his second career triple-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Bucks.

      Josh Giddey led the Thunder with 19 points. After a hot start, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with just 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting, and Chet Holmgren finished with six points, going 1-for-10 from the floor. It snapped a 29-game streak for Gilgeous-Alexander scoring at least 20 points.

      --Field Level Media

  • Kris Dunn, Jabari Smith Jr. suspended for fight in Rockets-Jazz game
    By Field Level Media / Tuesday, March 26, 2024

    The NBA suspended Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn and Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. for their parts in a scuffle Saturday in Houston.

    • Dunn received a two-game suspension without pay for "initiating an altercation and throwing a punch" at Smith, while Smith received a one-game ban for his part in the fracas.

      Following the incident, just five seconds into the second quarter of the Rockets' 147-119 victory, Dunn and Smith were assessed technical fouls and ejected.

      Dunn will sit out home games Monday and Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs, while Smith will serve his suspension in Monday's game between the Rockets and the visiting Portland Trail Blazers.

      --Field Level Media

  • Reports: No timeline for return of Celtics' Jrue Holiday
    By Field Level Media / Tuesday, March 26, 2024

    Boston Celtics starting point guard Jrue Holiday, who has not played since March 17 due to a right shoulder joint strain that has caused "dead arm," remains out, with no timetable set for his return, multiple outlets reported.

    • Holiday, who has earned first-team NBA All-Defensive Team honors in three of the past six seasons, sustained the injury when he hit the Washington Wizards' Richaun Holmes, who was setting a screen. Holiday came out of the game a few minutes later and has not played since.

      "I still want to play. That's part of the reason I play basketball. But it's also keeping rhythm. Sometimes, when you're out for a long time, you break rhythm, but I feel like I've been in a good groove and I want to continue to play," Holiday told The Boston Globe.

      Coach Joe Mazzulla said Holiday is "in good shape. He's doing well. He's getting better."

      The 15-year veteran and two-time All-Star is averaging 12.8 points per game, the lowest since his rookie season with the Philadelphia 76ers. But he is on pace for career highs in 3-point shooting (44.5 percent) and rebounds (5.4), to go with 4.9 assists.

      The Celtics have built a league-best 57-14 record, leading the Eastern Conference by 11 1/2 games. They have clinched a postseason berth and will win the Eastern Conference title with either their next win or a loss by the Milwaukee Bucks.

      Their next game is Monday night for the first of two games against the Hawks in Atlanta.

      Holiday played four seasons for the Philadelphia 76ers, seven for the New Orleans Pelicans and three for the Milwaukee Bucks, winning the 2021 NBA title.

      In a three-team deal on Sept. 27, Milwaukee traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers. Less than a week later, Portland sent him to Boston for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams and multiple draft picks.

      --Field Level Media

  • NBA roundup: Jalen Green, Rockets pour it on vs. Jazz
    By Field Level Media / Tuesday, March 26, 2024

    Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet combined for 75 points as the host Houston Rockets turned a sharpshooting exhibition into a runaway 147-119 victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday.

    • Green poured in 41 points -- one shy of his career high matched Tuesday against Washington -- while VanVleet tallied a season-high 34 to pace the Rockets to their eighth consecutive victory and 10th win in 11 games. Green and VanVleet combined to finish 26 of 38 from the floor and 17 of 26 from behind the arc as Houston drilled a season-high 27 3-pointers.

      VanVleet nailed 10 treys, matching a single-game franchise record.

      John Collins led the Jazz with 25 points while Collin Sexton chipped in 20 points and eight assists. The Jazz, without Lauri Markkanen (right quad contusion) and Jordan Clarkson (right groin strain), have lost 11 of 13 games and 10 consecutive games on the road.

      Celtics 124, Bulls 113

      Sam Hauser made seven of his eight 3-point attempts and scored 23 points to help visiting Boston stretch its winning streak to nine games with a victory over Chicago.

      Jayson Tatum added 26 points and six assists for the Celtics. Al Horford finished the game with 23 points and eight rebounds for Boston, which has won six in a row on the road.

      Chicago trailed by six, 113-107, with 4:35 to play, but Boston extended its lead to 10 points on a Tatum basket with 3:04 left. The Bulls never got within striking distance after that. DeMar DeRozan had a game-high 28 points, nine assists and six rebounds in the loss.

      Kings 109, Magic 107

      De'Aaron Fox scored 12 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter, Keegan Murray added 22 points and visiting Sacramento beat Orlando.

      Domantas Sabonis recorded his 53rd consecutive double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Keon Ellis finished with a career-high 19 points. Ellis' 3-pointer put the Kings ahead 106-101 with 1:59 remaining.

      Jonathan Isaac matched a career high with 25 points off the bench for Orlando, which had its five-game winning streak come to an end. Paolo Banchero scored 22 points, Franz Wagner added 18, Cole Anthony had 16 and Wendell Carter Jr. grabbed 11 rebounds.

      Knicks 105, Nets 93

      Donte DiVincenzo scored a game-high 31 points to help New York to a victory over visiting Brooklyn.

      Miles McBride added 26 points for the Knicks, while Isaiah Hartenstein collected 17 points, nine rebounds and four steals. Jalen Brunson also scored 17 points and added eight assists for New York, which has won five of its past six games. Josh Hart grabbed 13 rebounds.

      Cam Thomas led the Nets with 19 points, followed by Mikal Bridges with 18 and Cameron Johnson with 13. The Nets' losing streak reached six games.

      Hawks 132, Hornets 91

      Dejounte Murray had 28 points and 12 assists and Bruno Fernando came off the bench to score a career-high 25 points to lead Atlanta to a win over visiting Charlotte.

      The win ended Atlanta's two-game losing streak and sent the Hornets to their fourth straight setback. Murray, who recorded his 15th double-double this season, was 7-for-9 on 3-pointers and added seven rebounds and five steals. Fernando added six rebounds and a block. Atlanta's Garrison Mathews scored a season-high 20 points.

      Charlotte was led by Miles Bridges with 27 points and Nick Richards with 12 points and 16 rebounds.

      Suns 131, Spurs 106

      Devin Booker poured in 32 points and Kevin Durant added 25 in just three quarters as visiting Phoenix dismantled San Antonio.

      Phoenix shot 61.6 percent from the floor through the first three quarters, eclipsing the 100-point mark in the final seconds of the third period, sending Booker and Durant to the bench for the final 12 minutes.

      Keldon Johnson led the Spurs with 14 points while Victor Wembanyama had 13, Blake Wesley scored 12 and Zach Collins racked up 11.

      Wizards 112, Raptors 109

      Jordan Poole, Deni Avdija and Richaun Holmes all recorded double-doubles and Washington used a late 8-0 run to send visiting Toronto to a 10th consecutive loss.

      Avdija led the way with 22 points to go along with his 13 rebounds, but he missed a pair of free throws with 10 seconds left that gave Toronto one last shot at overtime. Poole had 18 points and Holmes finished with 15 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.

      Gary Trent Jr. scored a game-high 31 points to lead a heavily depleted Toronto lineup. The Raptors remained without the corps of Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl, four of the team's five primary starters.

      Nuggets 114, Trail Blazers 111

      Reggie Jackson scored 23 points and Aaron Gordon registered 22 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots to help short-handed Denver beat host Portland.

      Christian Braun had 17 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals off the bench for the Nuggets, who played without stars Nikola Jokic (back, hip) and Jamal Murray (ankle) while completing a four-game season-series sweep of the Trail Blazers.

      Duop Reath scored 24 points, Scoot Henderson added 22 points and Toumani Camara had 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists for Portland, which lost its sixth straight game.

      --Field Level Media

  • Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray out vs. Trail Blazers
    By Field Level Media / Tuesday, March 26, 2024

    Denver Nuggets stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray sat out Saturday night's road game with the Portland Trail Blazers due to injuries.

    • Jokic was ruled out with back and hip injuries. Murray was out due to a sprained left ankle sustained in the final minute of Thursday's 113-100 home victory over the New York Knicks.

      Jokic had 30 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists against New York for his 22nd triple-double of the season. The two-time NBA MVP is averaging 26.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 9.0 assists in 68 games.

      Murray had 23 points against the Knicks. He is averaging 20.9 points and 6.7 assists in 54 games.

      Deandre Ayton (elbow), Jerami Grant (hamstring) and Anfernee Simons (knee) were among the players who sat out for Portland. Simons injured his left knee in Friday night's 125-117 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

      --Field Level Media

  • NBA roundup: Anthony Davis' big night lifts Lakers over 76ers
    By Field Level Media / Tuesday, March 26, 2024

    Anthony Davis had 23 points, 19 rebounds and four blocked shots to lift the host Los Angeles Lakers past the Philadelphia 76ers 101-94 on Friday.

    • LeBron James added 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists for Los Angeles. D'Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves scored 14 points each for the Lakers, who won their second game in a row.

      In the first quarter, Russell set the Lakers' single-season record for most made 3-pointers. Russell went 4 of 10 from long distance on the night, finishing with 187 treys in 2023-24. He topped the mark of 183 set by Nick Van Exel in 1994-95.

      Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 27 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 19. Tobias Harris had 16 points and 13 rebounds as Philadelphia dropped its second game in a row to start a four-game western road trip.

      Celtics 129, Pistons 102

      Jaylen Brown poured in 33 points and visiting Boston extended its winning streak to eight games with a victory over Detroit.

      Payton Pritchard had 20 points and nine assists for the Celtics. Derrick White finished with 19 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, and Kristaps Porzingis also tossed in 19 points. Jayson Tatum, Boston's leading scorer and rebounder, sat out due to a right ankle injury.

      James Wiseman led the Pistons, who have lost five straight, with 24 points and nine rebounds. Jaden Ivey had 16 points, and Cade Cunningham contributed 15 points, six rebounds and six assists.

      Grizzlies 99, Spurs 97

      Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 28 points, including the game-winning jumper with 1.2 seconds left, as visiting Memphis came from behind to beat San Antonio.

      Memphis snapped a four-game losing streak and has beaten the Spurs 13 straight times, dating back to January 2021. Scotty Pippen Jr. added 18 points for the Grizzlies. Santi Aldama racked up 15 points and 13 rebounds.

      Rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 31 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, three blocked shots and two steals. Devin Vassell added 27 points as San Antonio lost for the fifth time in six games.

      Clippers 125, Trail Blazers 117

      Paul George scored 31 points on 10-of-14 shooting in three quarters of action as Los Angeles notched a victory over host Portland to sweep a back-to-back set and complete a four-game season sweep.

      Kawhi Leonard added 22 points in three periods for the Clippers, who defeated Portland for the ninth consecutive time. Terance Mann scored 20 points and James Harden had 15 points and 10 assists for Los Angeles.

      Scoot Henderson registered 24 points and 10 assists and fellow rookie Kris Murray scored a career-best 21 points for the Trail Blazers, who have lost five straight contests.

      Thunder 123, Raptors 103

      Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 23 points in his homecoming and visiting Oklahoma City overcame a slow start to defeat short-handed Toronto.

      Chet Holmgren added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, who have won four in a row. Jalen Williams scored 20 points.

      Gradey Dick scored 21 points for the Raptors, who have lost nine straight. Kelly Olynyk added 16 points.

      Pelicans 111, Heat 88

      CJ McCollum scored a game-high 30 points as New Orleans routed host Miami.

      Zio Williamson was held to four points on 2-for-7 shooting. That snapped his streak of seven straight games scoring at least 20 points. It was New Orleans' first win in Miami since December 2017. The Heat had beaten the Pelicans seven straight times overall.

      Miami, just 3-6 in its past nine games, was led by Jimmy Butler (17 points). Heat center Bam Adebayo added 12 points and 10 rebounds.

      Timberwolves 104, Cavaliers 91

      Mike Conley scored 21 points on 8-for-15 shooting as Minnesota rallied for a win over Cleveland in Minneapolis.

      Anthony Edwards recorded 16 points, 13 rebounds and five assists for the Timberwolves, who have won four of their past five games. Naz Reid scored 18 points and Rudy Gobert finished with a game-high 15 rebounds to go along with nine points.

      Darius Garland scored 19 points to lead Cleveland. Jarrett Allen notched 15 points and 13 rebounds as the Cavaliers dropped their second game in a row and fell to 2-5 in their past seven.

      Pacers 123, Warriors 111

      Pascal Siakam scored 25 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and dished six assists as Indiana knocked off Golden State in San Francisco.

      The Pacers dominated in the third quarter, outscoring the Warriors 36-21 and extending their lead to as many as 16 points. Tyrese Haliburton finished with 26 points and 11 assists as Indiana won for the third time in four games.

      Warriors star Stephen Curry erupted for 13 points in the first quarter, but he finished with just 25. Golden State has alternated wins and losses for the past seven games.

      --Field Level Media

  • Pelicans F Brandon Ingram (knee) to miss 2 weeks
    By Field Level Media / Friday, March 22, 2024

    New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram escaped a serious knee injury but will miss at least two weeks with a bone contusion, the team said Friday.

    • Ingram had to be helped off the court to the locker room in the third quarter of Thursday night's 121-106 loss at Orlando. The team said he hyperextended his left knee, with an MRI revealing the bone contusion.

      He had 14 points, four rebounds and three assists in 21 minutes before exiting.

      Ingram will be re-evaluated in two weeks and will miss at least eight games. The Pelicans (42-27) entered Friday as the fifth seed in the Western Conference.

      Ingram, 26, is averaging 20.9 points, 5.8 assists and 5.1 rebounds in 63 starts this season. He's the team's second-leading scorer behind Zion Williamson.

      Ingram, who made the All-Star team in 2019-20, averages 19.4 points per game for his career.

      The No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, Ingram is in his fifth season with the Pelicans.

      --Field Level Media

  • NBA roundup: Rockets beat Bulls for 7th straight win
    By Field Level Media / Friday, March 22, 2024

    Jalen Green scored 26 points, Dillon Brooks added 23 and three reserves scored in double figures as the Houston Rockets extended their winning streak to seven games with a 127-117 victory over the visiting Chicago Bulls on Thursday.

    • Jock Landale added 17 points and 12 rebounds while Aaron Holiday tallied 15 points and Jeff Green had 14 points and seven rebounds off the Houston bench. Brooks shot 10 of 13 before earning an ejection as the Rockets shot 50.5 percent from the floor.

      Ayo Dosunmu scored a career-high 35 points to pace the Bulls, who had all five starters score in double figures, including Nikola Vucevic (16 points, 14 rebounds, six assists).

      After blowing nearly all of a 19-point, second-quarter lead, Houston reclaimed control following an altercation between Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan and Brooks just before the midpoint of the third quarter with the Rockets up by nine.

      DeRozan delivered a hard foul on Jalen Green at the 6:02 mark, and while Green rolled on the floor in pain, Brooks and DeRozan locked arms, leading to a larger fracas. Both players were ejected, and the Rockets immediately found another gear, closing the period with 3-pointers from Fred VanVleet, Jeff Green, Jalen Green and Holiday.

      Nuggets 113, Knicks 100

      Nikola Jokic posted another triple-double and Michael Porter Jr. scored a game-high 31 points for host Denver, which continued surging with a win over New York.

      Jokic finished with 30 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in his seventh triple-double in the last 15 games and his 22nd of the season for the Nuggets, who improved to 13-2 since Feb. 22 to move into a virtual tie for first place in the Western Conference with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Jamal Murray scored 23 points while Aaron Gordon added 10 points.

      Jalen Brunson had 26 points and nine assists for the Knicks, which had its four-game winning streak snapped. Isaiah Hartenstein scored a career-high 20 points while Alec Burks had 18 points off the bench. Donte DiVincenzo and Miles McBride added 11 points each.

      Mavericks 113, Jazz 97

      Luka Doncic scored 34 points and Daniel Gafford added 24 as Dallas defeated visiting Utah.

      Gafford hit 10 of 11 field goals, all dunks, and Doncic added nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals as the Mavericks (41-29) won their third consecutive game. Kyrie Irving contributed 16 points and seven assists. Dallas ended with a franchise-record 18 dunks.

      Lauri Markkanen returned to the lineup to lead the Jazz (29-41) with 21 points despite an off night shooting. He finished 6 of 20 overall and 1-for-9 from 3-point range. Utah made only 4 of 30 from beyond the arc. Collin Sexton scored 20 points off the bench for Utah, which has lost four straight. Keyonte George added 18 points, while Walker Kessler totaled 14 points and nine rebounds.

      Magic 121, Pelicans 106

      Paolo Banchero had a triple-double and surging Orlando cooled off visiting New Orleans.

      Banchero finished with 20 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds as the Magic won for the 13th time in 16 games. Jalen Suggs scored 22 points and Franz Wagner had 18.

      Trey Murphy III scored 21 points for the Pelicans, who lost for just the second time in nine games. Zion Williamson had 20 points, CJ McCollum finished with 18 and Brandon Ingram added 14 before leaving the game for good early in the third quarter after injuring his left knee.

      Wizards 109, Kings 102

      Kyle Kuzma scored a game-high 31 points, leading Washington to a win over visiting Sacramento.

      Deni Avdija added 17 points and nine rebounds for the Wizards, while Corey Kispert scored 15 points. Jordan Poole chipped in 14 points and Richaun Holmes collected 16 rebounds for Washington, which ended a five-game skid.

      De'Aaron Fox led the Kings with 25 points, six steals, five rebounds and five assists. Malik Monk scored 20 points off the bench, Keegan Murray chipped in 16 and Domantas Sabonis amassed 14 points, 14 rebounds and six assists.

      Bucks 115, Nets 108

      Damian Lillard had 30 points and 12 assists, Giannis Antetokounmpo added 21 points and nine rebounds and Milwaukee withstood a fourth-quarter rally to beat visiting Brooklyn.

      Brook Lopez added 17 points for the Bucks, who completed a three-game sweep of the season series against the Nets. Brooklyn trailed by as many as 20 late in the first half before cutting the deficit to 81-69 at the end of the third quarter.

      The Nets opened the fourth quarter on a 21-6 run to move ahead 90-87 with 6:41 remaining in the contest, but Milwaukee regained the lead and held a 103-98 advantage with 2:34 left. Mikal Bridges hit a trey to make it 103-101, but that was the closest Brooklyn would get. Bridges finished with 24 points.

      --Field Level Media

  • Hawks F Jalen Johnson (ankle) ruled out vs. Suns
    By Field Level Media / Thursday, March 21, 2024

    Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson has been ruled out of Thursday's road game against the Phoenix Suns with a right ankle injury.

    • Johnson, 22, is in the midst of a breakout season with 16.1 points per game and 8.6 rebounds in 51 contests (48 starts). In three NBA seasons he has averaged 8.9 points and 5.2 rebounds in 143 games (54 starts).

      He was selected by the Hawks with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

      Johnson was injured in Monday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers with 6:47 remaining when he rolled his right ankle after stepping on the foot of teammate Clint Capela. It is Johnson's second right ankle injury this month after he also was hurt on March 6 and missed three games.

      The Hawks (30-38) currently hold the final play-in tournament spot in the Eastern Conference, going 6-6 since star guard Trae Young departed after finger surgery. Young is expected to be healthy by the time the regular season ends on April 14.

      Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu recently missed 13 games with a sprained big left toe but returned Monday to score 11 points against the Lakers.

      --Field Level Media

  • NBA roundup: Celtics top Bucks, win 7th straight
    By Field Level Media / Thursday, March 21, 2024

    Jayson Tatum had 31 points and eight rebounds to help the Boston Celtics extend their winning streak to seven games with a 122-119 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.

    • Derrick White added 23 points and eight assists for Boston, which made 18 of its 40 3-point attempts. Jaylen Brown had 21 points, and Payton Pritchard came off the bench to score 19.

      The Celtics led by 21 points in the fourth quarter before the Bucks got within two with 32.6 seconds left. Boston sealed the win at the foul line, running its home winning streak to 10 games.

      Damian Lillard scored a game-high 32 points and Bobby Portis added 24 points and 15 rebounds for Milwaukee, which was missing Giannis Antetokounmpo (hamstring) for the second game in a row.

      Suns 115, 76ers 102

      Grayson Allen matched his season highs with nine 3-pointers and 32 points as Phoenix beat visiting Philadelphia.

      Kevin Durant scored 22 points and Devin Booker added 18 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds for Phoenix, which led by as many as 26. Durant (28,610 points) was 10-for-18 from the floor and passed Shaquille O'Neal (28,596) for eighth on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

      Kelly Oubre Jr. put up 18 points for the 76ers, who had their two-game winning streak end.

      Heat 107, Cavaliers 104

      Terry Rozier scored seven of his 24 points down the stretch, including on a step-back 3-pointer with 14.5 seconds remaining in regulation, which proved to be the game-winner as visiting Miami topped Cleveland.

      The Heat could not gain much separation, however, pushing their advantage to 11 points at its peak. Playing without Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Max Strus, the Cavaliers rallied to take a fourth-quarter lead behind Georges Niang's 10 points in the period.

      Niang was one of five Cleveland scorers in double figures, finishing with 18 points. Jarrett Allen recorded his 34th double-double of the season and first 20-plus-point, 20-plus-rebound double-double since Dec. 27 with a team-high 25 points and 20 boards.

      Pacers 122, Pistons 103

      Pascal Siakam had 25 points, eight rebounds and four assists and visiting Indiana pounded Detroit.

      Tyrese Haliburton had 20 points, nine assists and four steals for the Pacers (39-31) on the first leg of a five-game road trip. Aaron Nesmith supplied 14 points and T.J. McConnell contributed 13 points and six assists.

      Cade Cunningham led the Pistons (12-57), who have lost four straight, with 23 points, 1 10 assists and six rebounds. Jaden Ivey had 15 points and Jalen Duren added 11 points and 12 rebounds.

      Thunder 119, Jazz 107

      Rookie Chet Holmgren scored 35 points to lead host Oklahoma City past Utah for its third win in a row, moving the Thunder into sole possession of first place in the Western Conference.

      Holmgren scored 18 of his points in the fourth quarter as the Thunder pulled away, outscoring the Jazz 37-27. Utah has dropped three consecutive games and 14 of its past 17.

      Holmgren added a season-high-tying 14 rebounds, while teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 31 points, seven assists and four steals. Collin Sexton led Utah with 25 points.

      Kings 123, Raptors 89

      Domantas Sabonis had 13 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists as visiting Sacramento defeated Toronto.

      Sabonis recorded a double-double for the 51st consecutive game while producing his 24th triple-double of the season. De'Aaron Fox added 20 points for the Kings, who were opening a three-game road trip after a 4-2 homestand.

      Gary Trent Jr. scored 18 points for the Raptors, who have lost eight in a row. Ochai Agbaji and Jordan Nwora scored 13 points apiece, and Jahmi'us Ramsey put up 11 points.

      Warriors 137, Grizzlies 116

      Jonathan Kuminga had a team-high 26 points and Golden State used a 22-0 burst bridging the second and third quarters to break a tie and pull away from Memphis in San Francisco.

      Klay Thompson poured in 23 off the bench, Andrew Wiggins chipped in with 22 points and Stephen Curry had 14 in just 24 minutes, helping the Warriors snap a three-game home losing streak.

      On a night when the Grizzlies attempted 49 3-pointers, rookie GG Jackson II buried seven en route to a season-high 35 points and Santi Aldama hit six in a 27-point effort. However, they couldn't prevent Memphis' fourth consecutive loss.

      Clippers 116, Blazers 103

      Paul George scored 27 points and Kawhi Leonard added 24 as Los Angeles topped host Portland in the first contest of a two-game set.

      James Harden had 19 points and 14 assists as the Clippers defeated the Trail Blazers for the third straight time this season and eighth in a row overall.

      Scoot Henderson scored 18 points and rookie Kris Murray added a career-high 17 points for Portland, which took its fourth loss in a row. Anfernee Simons had 14 points and Jabari Walker and Dalano Banton scored 12 points apiece.

      --Field Level Media

  • Report: Alex Rodriguez, Marc Lore's Wolves purchase back on
    By Field Level Media / Wednesday, March 20, 2024

    One day after a private equity firm pulled its $300 million investment from Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore's bid to acquire majority control of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, the pair found a new financial backer and filed paperwork with the NBA to complete the deal, The Athletic reported Wednesday.

    • Per The Athletic, Rodriguez and Lore's original backer, the Carlyle Group, did not come to an agreement regarding requirements for those investing in the NBA, so the sides agreed to part ways.

      Rodriguez -- the former baseball star -- and Lore found assistance elsewhere, with Dyal Capital Partners reportedly joining the duo as an investor to supply the financial backing that will complete the purchase of the two franchises from Glen Taylor. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt is part of the new ownership group, per the report.

      Rodriguez and Lore have been attempting to purchase another 40 percent of franchise equity on top of the 40 percent that they already have, which would allow them to take over as lead owners of both franchises. The NBA Board of Governors must approve the ownership structure, with no timetable set for that process.

      The pair had made two purchases of 20 percent equity dating back to 2021 as part of a gradual move toward gaining control of the Minnesota franchises.

      Rodriguez and Lore exercised their option to buy the final 40 percent of their deal in December, opening a 90-day window to close the deal. They had until March 27 to submit the paperwork to the NBA.

      --Field Level Media